Canada's Failing to Meet UN Targets for Female Peacekeeping Participation

Strategic Insights -

Canada's push to lead internationally on promoting women in peacekeeping appears to be faltering, with a significant decline in the number of female Canadian Armed Forces members contributing to peacekeeping missions. The current UN statistics show that, out of 29 Canadians deployed as part of the 11 current UN peacekeeping missions, none of the 18 military staff officers are women. This is a far cry from the UN target, which requires 22 per cent of the deployed officers to be women. The disappointing numbers have raised concerns that Canada may be called out by the international body for missing its targets.

Key Takeaways:

  • Canada currently has only two women from the military deployed on UN peacekeeping missions, raising concerns about Ottawa's commitment to promoting women in peacekeeping.
  • The UN target requires 22 per cent of the deployed officers to be women, but none of the 18 military staff officers in the current UN peacekeeping missions are women.
  • The number of female Canadian Armed Forces members contributing to peacekeeping has dwindled, with the most recent batch of UN statistics published in May showing a significant decline.
  • The Department of National Defence provided a response, stating that the numbers fluctuate over time and that six women are currently deployed on missions, including four police officers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and two Canadian Armed Forces members in the Middle East and South Sudan.
  • The Trudeau Liberals' vow to boost Canada's UN contributions and hike the number of women on peace missions appears to be faltering, with the Elsie Initiative fund established to increase the participation of women in UN peace operations showing little progress.
  • The Canadian Armed Forces currently has 1,900 members deployed in Latvia on a deterrence mission, making it difficult to provide troops for UN operations.

Statistics:

  • 29 Canadians deployed as part of the 11 current UN peacekeeping missions (Manager, United Nations Peace Operations, n.d.).
  • 18 military staff officers deployed on UN peacekeeping missions, with none of them being women (Manager, United Nations Peace Operations, n.d.).
  • 22 per cent of the deployed officers should be women according to the UN target (Manager, United Nations Peace Operations, n.d.).
  • Six women are currently deployed on missions, including four police officers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and two Canadian Armed Forces members in the Middle East and South Sudan (The Department of National Defence, n.d.).
  • 1,900 Canadian Armed Forces members deployed in Latvia on a deterrence mission (Jane Boulden, n.d.).
  • Women make up about 16 per cent of regular force members within the armed forces writ-large (Jane Boulden, n.d.).
  • Women make up about 21 per cent of officers within the armed forces (Jane Boulden, n.d.).

Sources:

  • Manager, United Nations Peace Operations. (n.d.). Troop and Police Contributors to UN Peacekeeping. Retrieved from
  • The Department of National Defence. (n.d.). Response to the Canadian Press. Retrieved from
  • Jane Boulden. (n.d.). Interview with the Canadian Press.